{"id":1225,"date":"2017-09-08T12:49:45","date_gmt":"2017-09-08T12:49:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/TheWatchClub\/?p=1225"},"modified":"2022-10-26T06:37:58","modified_gmt":"2022-10-26T06:37:58","slug":"watch-bezels-ceramic-or-steel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/2017\/09\/08\/watch-bezels-ceramic-or-steel\/","title":{"rendered":"Ceramic vs Stainless Steel Watch Bezel Material"},"content":{"rendered":"

Watch Bezel<\/a> Material: Ceramic or Steel?<\/h2>\n

Over the last century, a bevy of materials have been used to create watches, not just to improve their aesthetics but to increase their robustness as well. For bezels, the most common materials used are aluminum, steel, and most recently, ceramic.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re about to start your watch collection, or simply have not considered bezel material, we break down the pros and cons of each option:<\/p>\n

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\"Omega<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
pictured, from left: \u00a0Omega Speedmaster Grey Side of the Moon Watch<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Rolex GMT Master II Batman Ceramic Bezel Mens Watch<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n

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\nWatch brand Rado is often credited as the first to use ceramic in their watches with the Diastar (1962), but it was actually\u00a0Omega Seamaster<\/a> Cermet\u00a0<\/em>aka The Black Tulip that was the first ceramic watch<\/a> (1981). The watch was too expensive to produce and did not see mass production. Over the next two decades, ceramic watches<\/a> would be released by IWC and Chanel, finally going mainstream when Rolex launched the\u00a0Cerachrom<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>in 2005.
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\nThe use of ceramic has become more popular over the past decade, and Rolex being Rolex, they did not just settle for any ceramic. They patented their own ceramic material called the\u00a0Cerachrom<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0(\u201cchrom\u201d being the Greek word for color). The tough watch component is scratch-proof and virtually resistant to fading.<\/p>\n

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\nIt was first featured in the\u00a0GMT Master<\/a> II<\/strong>\u00a0of 2005, followed by\u00a0Submariner<\/strong><\/a>, and then\u00a0YachtMaster<\/strong><\/a>. Colors have eventually included blue, black and green, helping the use of ceramics become widespread.
\n\u00a0<br><\/span>
\nRolex had previously announced that creating a dual-color ceramic bezel would be impossible, but they ended up proving themselves wrong with the\u00a0GMT Master II 116710<\/strong>or more popularly known as the \u201cBatman\u201d (seen above).
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\nPROS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n